IX. souls cannot die

Around her waist, Fujiwara Keiko fastened a gun holster.

She grabbed the weapon on her bed. Her fingers traced its cool metal, stopping where its title was engraved; Soul Reaper.

Keiko secured the gun nozzle-down into that strap, tightening it just a bit more. She let her shirt fall over it, big enough not to blow her cover. A pair of pants, her school bag, and then she was walking down the stairs.

The living room was lively; her parents, older brother, and cat were all huddled around the couch mid-conversation when she entered. It sounded important.

Her brother twisted. "Do you have it on you?"

"Yeah," she lifted her shirt, then walked over to her parents. Their faces were stern and their arms crossed. "What is it?"

Her dad rubbed his forehead. "It looks like the game has started. I saw someone walk around with a gun screaming about winning."

"Time is running out and we have no leads," her mom sighed.

The cat lounged onto the couch and extended a paw to Keiko.

"What?"

Its eyes narrowed into slits.

"You think I have a lead?"

It nodded fervently.

Her brother snapped his fingers. "He's talking about Xavier Cox. You brought him up yesterday."

"Oh. I need more information about him. Don't get your hopes up," Keiko told them. "But, it was definitely a good idea to get close to those two boys. Although being around them so often has turned me into a shit person."

"You were always a shit person," remarked her brother. The cat offered him an agreeing paw to which his palm met.

Keiko rolled her eyes at the two.

"Archer Darchetti," her father recalled. "His dad led Que until he was arrested two days ago. And Nathan Gaines. . . How is he helpful?"

She smirked. "He can throw a punch."

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.
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Nathan was currently throwing many punches.

His victim was one of their classmates whose glasses were now shattered and his nose bleeding. By now, the park was crowded with curious Lincoln Middle students.

The guy crossed his arms over his face. Nathan's consistent attacks pushed him backwards until his back hit a tree. "Alright, Nate, fuck! I said I was sorry!"

He threw the final jab. "Yeah, I bet you are."

Archer was close by of course. He squared his shoulders. "You shouldn't have tried to steal his money, man."

"I gave it back!" Exclaimed the one with broken glasses. "What did you think would happen if you're walking around school with so much cash?"

"Watch your mouth," Nathan spit.

After the unfortunate guy staggered away, Keiko approached the two. Nathan was squatted against the tree, recounting his stash of green. Archer was mid-yawn.

"Oi," she got the latter's attention. "You said you'd fill me in on yesterday."

"Oh, yeah. We found Xavier. Or, he actually found us."

"So? What'd he say?"

"We couldn't get anything out of him," he scrunched his lips. "It's like he'd forget how to talk. I think something was stopping him."

"I still call bullshit," piped Nathan.

". . .He'd forget how to talk?"

"All he mentioned were books. And not even where they are," Archer exhaled frustration. "As long as he knows something, I'm not done trying."

Keiko shifted her chin over. Books. . .

"Yo, Archer, isn't that your mom's car?"

"Oh, snap. I have to go," he grabbed his bag and left. "See you."

Nathan closed the zipper on his bag before hopping to stand. "I'm leaving, too. I have something to do."

"Something to do with the money?"

Amused, he rolled his eyes. "Fine, since you're so nosy. It's to bail my dad out of jail," he told her. "A stupid racist cop arrested him for drinking and driving. He doesn't even drink! He failed the stupid walk-in-a-straight-line test only 'cause he's got bad knees."

She scrunched her nose. "That sucks."

"I'm not old enough to bail him out myself, so I'm going to ask my aunt."

"Alright, let's get going."

Mouth open, he blinked at her. "You're coming with me? Alone?"

"Why not?"

"Nothing. I don't mind. Since you want to, and all."By the smirk he put on, Nathan's ego was inflating. Really, she just needed a reason to see how much chaos their town was in so far.

~

"Now approaching Ponderosa Drive." After the metro bus hissed to a stop, its sliding doors sighed open.

The pair was met with a neighborhood where manicured lawns met white picket fences.

"It's a ten minute walk from here." Nathan told her. He adjusted his bag which hung off one shoulder.

"Alright." While following his lead, Keiko noted how quiet it was. She searched for anything out of the ordinary.

Looks like no one here has entered the game, yet.

Her attention was elsewhere when Nathan cleared his throat. Curious, she faced him. He put on a sly grin. "The whole time, I thought it was Archer, but now I'm thinking it's me."

Keiko hummed confusion.

"You know, the one you like," he explained. "Don't you hang out with us because you have a crush on one of us?"

"No. Is that what you guys thought?"

"Well—yeah."

"I'm entirely too old for any of you." Keiko laughed. "Plus, there's someone I'm still not over."

She continued forward and quickly lost Nathan who slowed to a stop. ". . .We're the same age, though."

She brought a closed hand to her mouth for a small laugh before twisting. "I'm obviously joking." To that, Nathan muttered an unamused seriously.

In no time, he was pressing the doorbell of his aunt's house. She answered the door quickly, a beam on her face.

"Natie! Hi!" Her eyes sparkling, she enveloped him in a tight embrace.

Squeezed in her arms, Nathan grumbled. "Kaylin. Stop calling me that."

"What, it's cute!" She let go to hold him at arm's length. "I missed you!"

"You just saw me last week."

Keiko curved her lips when Kaylin winked her way. She then made a stern face at her nephew. "You won't introduce me to your pretty friend? That's bad manners."

"You didn't give me a chance to!" He protested, then sighed. "This is Keiko."

"Hi, Keiko!"

"Hi."

To Nathan, she squinted. "I have a feeling you didn't come here just because you missed me."

"You wish. I'm here to ask you for a favor. . ."

Nathan slurred the last part because their attention was pulled. The teenagers twisted to see a man approaching the porch. He held a glass jar of cookies. Nathan and Keiko scooted to one side.

"Luka," Kaylin waved happily. "Finally back from vacation? What was that, a month?"

Wait. Haven't I heard that name?

"It was too short, that's what." He finally closed their distance. "Here, this is for you from Juno and the wife. Thanks for grabbing our mail while we were away."

"Of course. Are they not coming over here? I miss Junie."

Luka rubbed his nape. "Uh, we'll be staying inside these next few days. You should do the same. Apparently, some horrible disease is going around."

"Really?" Kaylin looked up in thought. "I haven't heard about that."

Was that a lie? Curious, Keiko huddled by Nathan and whispered.

"Who's that?" "Him? He lives around here." "Do you know his last name?" "Uhh, I don't—oh yeah, I saw it on a package she brought in for him. It's something like Altar." "Luka Altair!" ". . .Don't tell me you know him, too." "I might." "Yeah. Definitely a spy."

"Well, I don't mean to interrupt you all any more. See you later, Kay. Stay safe."

"Bye! So. Natie. What was that favor?"

"Not out here. I'll tell you inside."

Keiko had yet to pull her eyes away from the one leaving. "Hey, Nathan, I'll join up with you later."

The boy scrunched his brows, but asked no questions. Meanwhile, she rushed down the stairs and down the sidewalk.

"Excuse me," Keiko called, causing his turn. "Are you Luka Altair?"

A fleeting shadow of confusion danced around his eyes. "That happens to be my name."

"Apologies if I'm wrong—I believe you have a connection to the LeRouge, somehow?"

He looked left, right, then shifted his eyes center. "Who are you?"

"I take it you do." She reckoned. "My name is Isla Yäger, a member of the former Premier Family."

"Yäger. . . That sounds familiar."

"Does it? You must be the Luka I'm looking for, then," she sighed with relief. "I need your help."

~

Luka Altair was kind enough to invite her to the secluded embrace of his backyard. On patio chairs, they got comfortable. The sun showed him grace, brightening the green in his eyes.

He looks like someone I can trust.

"Are you familiar with Traveler?" Isla began. "The boy who searched worlds for his brother."

He nodded. "Traveler's real name is Sinclair, and his brother is Dimitri."

She made an 'o' with her lips. "So you've heard the story. Truth is, it's me who made the agreement with Sinclair. I spoke to him often, and he often made me smile," she looked downward, the memories replaying. "Actually, I fell in love with him. That was my biggest mistake; Sin was only using me."

"Sin did?"

"I was so stupid, it was a barely a coup," she recalled. "Now, the LeRouge are the Premier Family. With that position, they can manipulate souls. Even their own."

"Souls?"

"Mhm-hm. Body, soul, mind—those create life. And the LeRouge plan to use their power to play a Culling Game. In fact, the game has already begun."

"Culling. As in a purge?" He shook a muddled head.

"Each member distributes their soul to as many people as they can. Those infected take on the LeRouge's persona, which contains the desire to kill."

"That's. . . insane."

"I agree," she exhaled. "I'm glad I recognized your name. I knew it was familiar from when I would keep track of those with LeRouge blood. Wait—how is that possible?"

Luka shook his head and his teeth flashed. "It's stupid. Dimi and I made a blood pact when we were kids."

"Are you close with him?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure what he's thinking anymore. Is it important that I am?"

"Well, the Premier Family lives in an alternate dimension—Danes Lobby. Whenever a LeRouge visits, then a portal will open somewhere."

"A portal?" He repeated, eyes wide. "At this point, I shouldn't be surprised anymore."

Isla put a thought-filled finger on her chin. "I don't know the Coordinates of that portal yet. Once I do, I need one of them to visit, so my family can get to the Lobby."

"I think I can do that." He nodded before tilting his head. "About your family. . ."

"Us Yäger were killed, but souls cannot die; they wander until they find a body; usually a fetus's."

"Is that how that works?"

"Yeah. Our souls eventually overtook the bodies of a Japanese family. I'm inside Fujiwara Keiko," she pointed at herself.

"I see. And you want to retake your position as the Premier Family."

"Exactly. Like I said, souls cannot die. But that's only unless they're hit with a Soul Reaper," she presented the gun strapped to her waist. "We'll erase the LeRouge completely."

Isla hid the weapon again, and grabbed her cellphone which sat in the same place. "Let's exchange numbers."

It was while her arm was extended that Isla realized who she was dealing with. Her face dropped. How did it slip her mind, that he was someone who contained the blood of a demonic and sinful family?

Luka wasn't taking the phone on her palm. He was backing away from it.

"To erase them. . . completely? Is that. Is that the only way? Why don't I talk to Dimi, first? I can try to change his mind."

Isla lowered her tired arm, dropped the phone, and laughed a paradox of terror. "No way. All of them are psychopaths."

She had whispered the realization, but he heard it anyway. Rather than fury or satisfaction, it was shock that shaped his expression.

Luka pushed his lips together. "I promised myself I'd never make anyone call me that again."

She furrowed her brows.

"I'll help you, Isla," he took her phone. "I guess, all of this just seems unreal. Since it's so peaceful outside."

They looked at the sky, blue with pregnant clouds.

Neither of them expected a percussion of gunshots.